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I think one of the most misunderstood pieces of writing advice is how writers are told to start with action or something exciting. So much of the time I read the first few pages and feel nothing but disorientation and impatience.
Starting a novel is a delicate balance between making sure your reader feels well cared for, feels informed about the characters and the world, and is engaged with what& #39;s happening on the page.
You need to start with tension. Tension and action are opposites. Action is the release from tension. Action is the catharsis, the breaking of a tide, a relationship between characters shifting into something more and something less.
Tension is about stakes. Tension is about how a character feels about a situation. It& #39;s wondering what& #39;s behind the door. What happens when they pull that trigger. Tension is a character giving a damn about an outcome.
In an opening you need to focus on stakes, not outcomes. Give us a moment to understand what a character wants. And what they want will tell us about who they are. And once we see who someone is, we& #39;ll start to give a damn about the rest of it.
I have two pieces of feedback I give over and over and over when reviewing first pages. The first is, the story is starting in the wrong place. The second is slow the fuck down.
Both are about building tension. Starting the story before the interesting thing is happening is always a mistake. Don& #39;t show them getting to the meeting. Start with the meeting, start with the tension of what& #39;s happening in the room.
The second is don& #39;t rush. Take your time to set up the scene. Build out your world and your characters using material details. What are they wearing, what does the room look like. This will tell us about what kind of world they& #39;re in.
And most importantly, tell us how they feel. What are they feeling about being in this room. What do they feel about what a character is saying. What do they want. What do they fear.
Anyhow, start with tension not action. Start with wants and fears. Start at the interesting, not at the beginning.
Novels are chaotic systems. There& #39;s a hugely sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Start well and the rest of the reading experience will follow.
Novels are chaotic systems. There& #39;s a hugely sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Start well and the rest of the reading experience will follow.
